Louis B. Goodall Memorial Library
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Louis B. Goodall Memorial Library is the public library serving Sanford, Maine.[2] It is located at 952 Main Street, in an architecturally distinguished Colonial Revival brick building built in 1937, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
| Louis B. Goodall Memorial Library | |
|---|---|
| |
 | |
| Location | Sanford, Maine, United States |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1898 |
| Collection | |
| Size | 79,977 |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 103,000 |
| Population served | 21,253[1] |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $534,682 |
| Employees | 6 |
| Website | lbgoodall |
Architecture and history
The Goodall Library is located at the northern corner of Main and Elm Streets, just south of Sanford center. The original 1937 Georgian Revival structure is 1-1/2 stories in height, built of brick with a slate roof and cupola. A central horizontal section is flanked by projecting gabled sections on either side. To the rear of this block stands a two-story modern addition built in 1976. The 1937 portion was designed by Portland architect William O. Armitage, and was a gift to the town by Dr. and Mrs. Harvey Thornburgh, named in honor of her father, Louis B. Goodall, who was one of the town's most well-known residents. The building is owned by the city and managed by a board of trustees.[3]
On June 18, 1898, the Sanford Library Association was organized to provide library service to the people of Sanford.[4] Thomas Goodall, first president of the library association, allowed his School Street property to be used as a home for the library.[5] It opened for the circulation of books on December 31, 1898, and on June 1, 1900 the library was made accessible to the general public free of charge.[6]
The Carpentier Branch opened in 1950, but closed due to budget cuts in 1991.[7] The village of Springvale has its own public library Springvale Public Library located 2.5 miles from the Goodall Library.[8]